Befriending Week 2025 was such a treat! We'd love to hear your feedback on the Befriending Week campaign, whether you were able to take part or not. Your insights will help us make next year's Befriending Week even better!🌟
Complete the survey at befriending.co.uk/bw25-feedback
#BefriendingWeek
Top row: Emily Kenward, Mike Niles Middle row: Stuart Gray, Bonnie Bowhay, Jayne Burnett, Bottom row: Nikki Pattinson, Rita Chadha, Julia Weir
This week is #TrusteesWeek and we want to take the opportunity to thank our incredible board for all their hard work, passion and dedication to supporting the befriending sector. Thank you! 🌟
Find out more about our board on our website: befriending.co.uk/about/staff-board
#BefriendingWeek
Friendship is life-changing 🧡 As #BefriendingWeek ends, we’re inviting new volunteers to join our 1:1 Befriending Programme. Meet weekly with a New Scot in Edinburgh, practise English, explore the city, and build confidence together. Apply here ➡️ https://bit.ly/43bv4Dp
Dark blue background with white rectangle in centre. Befriending Week logo in upper right corner. Space and Befriending Networks logos in lower right and left corners. Text in centre reads: 'I would consider becoming a youth befriender because...'
Why would you consider becoming a youth befriender? Let us know in the comments!
Learn more about being a youth befriender & join our award-winning team of volunteers making a difference to the community (link in bio).
#YouthBefriending #BefriendingWeek #Space #BroomhouseHub
As we wrap up #BefriendingWeek 2025, we want to say a massive thank you to everyone who took part. It's been a busy week and we've been blown away by all the activity taking place. For a roundup of some highlights, check out our blog. Thank you! 🎉
befriending.co.uk/bw25-thankyou/
#WythnosCyfeillio
In honour of #BefriendingWeek, Heather shares some reflections on this year's theme, partnership and collaboration, and how this has benefited the Ruby Boots Project and the children and young people involved:
forceschildrenscotland.org.uk/news/befrien...
@befriending.co.uk
Image includes excerpt from the Minister's message: "O ganlyniad i'ch ymrwymiad i feithrin cysylltiadau ystyrlon, rydych chi'n helpu i greu Cymru fwy tosturiol a chynhwysol ac yn gwneud gwahaniaeth trawsnewidiol i fywydau pobl bob dydd." Sarah Murphy AS, Y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant "Through your commitment to building meaningful connections, you are helping to create a more compassionate and inclusive Wales and making a transformational difference to people’s lives every day." Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
For #BefriendingWeek, Sarah Murphy MS, the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing gave a message of thanks to Befriending Networks, members and dedicated volunteers who give their time to support others in Wales through befriending. Read the message here.
befriending.co.uk/bw25-sarahmu...
105-year-old Marion lives in a residential care home and was experiencing #loneliness and isolation as she didn’t have many visitors...until she forged a friendship with our volunteer Compassionate Neighbour befriender Lesley💙
Read more ➡️ www.StrathcarronHospice.net/news
#BefriendingWeek
Neighbourly Lab: Keep hearing loss in mind this Befriending Week
As Befriending Week 2025 comes to a close, Helen MacIntyre, from @neighbourlylab.bsky.social, highlights some ways in which befrienders and others working to address loneliness need to be aware of hearing loss as a barrier to social connection.
befriending.co.uk/bw25-neighbourlylab
#BefriendingWeek
" I love being out with Kevin - it is a very easy 2-way friendship". Read the Befriending Scheme case study on our blog. befriending.co.uk/bw
Our final case study of #BefriendingWeek 2025 comes from The Befriending Scheme, which provides friendship for vulnerable people across Suffolk. They share the story of Kevin and Barry, whose befriending match has grown into a mutual friendship.
befriending.co.uk/bw25-thebefriendingscheme
Our second @befriending.co.uk #BefriendingWeek spotlight celebrates Arlene and Eve. Their friendship helped both feel more connected - Eve to her new community, and Arlene to the world beyond her home. It’s an example of how befriending can bring people together, no matter their circumstances.
Chwe mis o Linking Lives Cymru / Six months of Linking Lives Cymru
Ar gyfer yr #WythnosCyfeillio, Matt yn myfyrio ar 6 mis o adeiladu partneriaethau â chymunedau ffydd i hyrwyddo cyfeillio.
befriending.co.uk/bw25-linkinglivescymru
For #BefriendingWeek, Matt reflects on 6 months of building partnerships with faith communities to promote befriending.
#Cymru #Cymraeg
Podcast: London Irish Centre's Quality Award Journey with Caroline Hanks
NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎙️
Today we're sharing a new podcast with Caroline Hanks from the London Irish Centre. Sandra chats to Caroline about the process for achieving the Quality Award, with some top tips and advice for completing the assessment.
befriending.co.uk/bw25-londoni...
#BefriendingWeek
This #BefriendingWeek we've enjoyed celebrating partnerships and collaborations. Thank you to our friends at Aegon UK for helping us with a series of videos to show the positive impact of all that we do. Here's just one example🙂
AND, a BIG thank you to @befriending.co.uk for your continued support
💛 Befriending Week 💛
We all need someone to talk to. Our telephone befriending service offers a safe, supportive space to share your worries or just have a chat!
Call us today on 0121 788 1143 to connect.
#BefriendingWeek #CarerSupport #CarersTrust
Eden Project Communities: Building community connections through The Big Lunch.
Befriending Week is one of many campaigns that aim to bring people together and celebrate the power of connection. Today's guest blog from Grainne McCloskey at Eden Project Communities shares stories of connection from The Big Lunch. Read the blog: befriending.co.uk/bw25-biglunch
#BefriendingWeek
Dark blue background with white rectangle in centre. Befriending Week logo in upper right corner. Space and Befriending Networks logos in lower right and left corners. Text in centre reads: 'I am a befriender because... I think it makes a difference to young people.'
Our Youth Befriending volunteers love befriending because...
'I think it makes a difference to young people.'
Learn more about being a youth befriender & join our award-winning team of volunteers supporting the community (link in bio).
#YouthBefriending #BefriendingWeek #Space #BroomhouseHub
This #BefriendingWeek, Ecas is celebrating our amazing partnership with Aegon UK. Thanks to funding from our friends there, our Befriending pairs have enjoyed trips around Edinburgh, including @thebotanics.bsky.social, Re-Union Canal Boats and Six by Nico. Enjoy these highlights from our visits 😎
"I just don't feel old anymore, because I've got purpose and I've got a voice with Vintage Vibes" Read the Vintage Vibes case study on our blog. befriending.co.uk/bw
Today's case study comes from Vintage Vibes, an award-winning charity tackling isolation and loneliness in Edinburgh. Sheila shares how becoming a Vintage Vibes’ VIP has helped her find purpose after years of feeling invisible.
befriending.co.uk/bw25-vintagevibes
#BefriendingWeek #10YearsBold
Dark blue background with white rectangle in centre. Befriending Week logo in upper right corner. Space and Befriending Networks logos in lower right and left corners. Text in centre reads: 'I love befriending because... It puts something back into society.'
Our Youth Befriending volunteers love befriending because...
'It puts something back into society.'
Learn more about being a youth befriender & join our award-winning team of volunteers making a difference to the community (link in bio).
#YouthBefriending #BefriendingWeek #Space #BroomhouseHub
Our Befriending Week cable cars have been a fantastic day out for our members and other people from the community. There are still some spots available for the rest of the week, so head to our website to book your free place! befriending.co.uk/befriending-...
#BefriendingWeek
Join the Eden Project for a lunchtime webinar from 12-1pm on Friday 7 November, to explore findings from an independent evaluation of The Big Lunch and their wider communities programme by the Belong Network.
Book your place now - events.more-human.co.uk/event/the-po...
#BefriendingWeek
Our Annual Conference & AGM start now. We look forward to welcoming our network online for reflecting on the past year, celebrations of #BefriendingWeek and planning for 2026. We're so excited to have content led by our members. After all, our theme is Collaboration and Partnerships! 💚
This #BefriendingWeek, we would like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of our befrienders for all that you do:
If you are experiencing loneliness and need support or are interested in volunteering for us, please visit: omega.uk.net
#TogetherWeCanEndLoneliness
@befriending.co.uk
This week is #BefriendingWeek, when we celebrate the impact that befriending can have.
Every day, our own volunteer befrienders & penpals here at Omega do a brilliant job of supporting lonely and vulnerable people across the UK - bringing companionship, encouragement and laughter into their lives.
We’re starting #BefriendingWeek with our first partnership highlight 🌻 Thanks to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, New Scots have been learning, growing and finding peace in nature - gardening, journaling and even cooking meals with what they’ve grown. 💛
"Even one hour together makes a difference. It's about being there, listening and showing love." Read the full ALONE case study on our blog. befriending.co.uk/bw
Our Befriending Week case study today comes from ALONE, an Excellence Award holder whose befriending service supports older people in Ireland. Zandile shares the enjoyment she gets from volunteering and connecting with older people in Galway.
befriending.co.uk/bw25-alone
#BefriendingWeek
afternoon at the drop-in centre
"When I left, volunteer Alison was comforting a refugee who was crying with stress. The whole afternoon epitomises the love and courage shown by refugees and volunteers alike." Read more about an afternoon at the drop-in: www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/an-afte... #befriendingweek #refugeeswelcome
It's #BefriendingWeek, celebrating the positive impact of befriending on individuals in the UK.
For the lonely and isolated, a befriender can be a lifeline to the outside world.
If you're isolated and in need of companionship, go to www.treacle.me
New free course. e-learning for volunteers: Creating Social Connections
🚨 New resource alert! 🚨
To mark #BefriendingWeek 2025, we've launched Creating Social Connections, a free e-learning module for volunteer befrienders.
Find out more and access the course: befriending.co.uk/bw25-elearni...
